A man dressed in camouflage used an archery-style bow to fire a steel-tipped hunting arrow at an elderly woman, then stabbed a man who came to her aid, police allege.
The arrow penetrated the 68-year-old woman's clothes, narrowly missing her body, but embedded in a bag behind her during the incident on the NSW south coast.
Police say the 32-year-old assailant confronted the woman about 6pm (AEDT) on Sunday at a home on the Princes Highway at Albion Park Rail, south of Wollongong.
"It's further alleged a 50-year-old man emerged from a bedroom and a struggle ensued in which he was stabbed in the stomach," police said in a statement.
"The armed man fled the scene and police were called."
The 50-year-old man was treated for non-life-threatening injuries at hospital.
The assailant was arrested after being found hiding in nearby bush several hours later.
He was charged with malicious wounding and being armed with intent to commit grievous bodily harm and is due to appear at Wollongong Local Court on Monday.
